Page 26 of Second Chance for the Grump

Her eyes widened, and she tried to turn back. “What?”

“Maisey, get out of here. Now!”

At the far back of the barn, Jonathan laughed. “If you leave now, you’ll miss the fun.”

I heard it. His plan.

9

MAISEY

For a terrifying second, I just stared at Rowan. What did he say? What was Jonathan saying? Run? Where?

Then, through the flurry of confusion, another sound hit my ears.

One that made my blood run cold.

“Is that… ticking?” I asked, more from shock than actually looking for an answer.

Tick.

The sound didn’t make sense. Neither did the panic deeply woven into Rowan’s expression. We were just here to get Charlie. Right?

Everything was going to be fine?

Right?

Tick.

Rowan promised we’d get Charlie, and everything would be fine.

Tick.

The sound echoed faintly from somewhere behind Jonathan but at the same time hit my ears like a drum. Once you heard it, you heard it loud and clear.

Then, from nowhere, Rowan jumped into action. He moved so fast I barely saw him wrap his arm around my waist and haul me backward.

Tick.

“Rowan!” I yelled as he swept me up.

His only response came by moving me behind an overturned feed trough outside the barn. Then he spun and turned toward the opening of the barn. To get Charlie.

Tick.

“Rowan!” I yelled again.

What if Jonathan tripped the wire?

Tick.

Charlie barked.

Rowan was going back for Charlie because he knew how much he meant to me, but what if he got killed in the process?

He was incapable of protecting himself.

Tick.